GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem marked the beginning of Christmas celebrations in a church service in the Gaza Strip on Sunday.

"Jesus knows the meaning of homelessness, murder and injustice, but the Christmas holiday is about peace, tolerance and justice," Fuad Twal told the congregation of a Roman Catholic church in Gaza.

The Jerusalem Patriarch said he hoped for justice and unity in Palestine, despite the difficult situation that the people of Gaza have experienced.

"The pain we collected in the past and should bring us the land in the future," Twal said, congratulating the Palestinian people on the upcoming Christmas holiday.